Joker Wild

Joker Wild Video Poker Strategy Rules (kings or better version)

Joker Wild is played with a 53-card deck, the regular 52-card deck plus a joker. The joker is a wild card, and can be used as any card you want. This increases the chance of getting a winning combination. On average the joker appears in about one out of every ten hands.

There are two versions of this game. One version returns your bet on a two-pair hand. The joker wild strategy presented here is for the better game, the one that gives back your money if you line up a pair of Kings or Aces. The hand rankings and pay-outs:

Winning hands payout

The winning hands and pay-outs for Joker Wild, from highest to lowest are:

  • Royal Flush without the joker – A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit. Pays 4,000 or more coins when five coins are bet. Pays 400 per coin bet if playing less than five coins.
  • Five of a Kind – Four same-value cards plus the joker. Pays 200 per coin bet.
  • Joker Royal Flush – A royal flush where one of the five cards is the joker. Pays 100 per coin bet.
  • Straight Flush – Five consecutive cards in the same suit, for instance 8, 9, 10, J and Q. Pays 50 or 40 per coin bet. Four of a Kind – A hand with four cards of the same value. Pays 20, 17 or 15 per coin bet.
  • Full House – Three cards of one value, and two cards of another value. Pays 8, 7 or 5 per coin bet.
  • Flush – Any five cards of the same suit, in no particular order. Pays 5 per coin bet.
  • Straight – Any five consecutive cards, such as J, 10, 9, 8 and 7, but not in the same suit. Pays 3 per coin bet.
  • Three of a Kind – Any three cards of the same value. Pays 2 per coin bet.
  • Two Pair / Pair of Kings or Aces – Pays 1 per coin bet. These are the lowest paying hands in Jokers Wild.

Many casinos to play Joker Wild video poker

There are many casinos where you can play this version of video poker. Below we have shown a screen shot of the variation at Cryptoslots casino.

joker poker at cryptoslots image

Visit the Casino

Kings or Better Joker Wild Strategy

If the hand you’re dealt contains the joker:

  • Keep all hands that are three-of-a-kind or higher, except hold four cards to the royal flush, even if it means discarding a paying hand of lower value. (Always remember that the joker is part of the combination you’re looking for, for example two sevens and the joker equals three-of-a-kind).
  • Keep any four-card straight flush and a four-card flush if it includes K, A or both.
  • Keep three cards to a royal flush
  • Keep a paying pair of high cards (King, Ace).
  • Keep any three cards to a straight flush.
  • Keep any four-card flush without King or Ace.
  • Keep consecutive four-card straights
  • If not dealt any of the above, keep the Joker only.

If you’re dealt a hand without the Joker:

  • Keep all paying hands, except hold a four-card royal flush.
  • Keep any four cards to a straight flush and any three cards to a royal flush.
  • Keep four cards to any flush.
  • Keep any pair of 2’s to Queens.
  • Keep any three cards to a straight flush.
  • Keep any four-card consecutive straight.
  • Keep two cards to a royal flush if one of the cards is a Ace or King.
  • Keep unsuited King and Ace.
  • Keep King or Ace alone.
  • Keep two suited royal flush cards lower than King or Ace.
  • If you’re not dealt any of the above, draw five new cards.

Additional tips

Print out these joker wild strategy rules and refer to them while playing online. Be sure you make the correct hold/discard decision for every hand. Take your time learning joker wild strategy, the computer will wait.